Overlord - Of Sin And Sanctity 6 Chapter 6: Nobility Is Cringe

(A.N: Should I drop my other novel (It's pretty dead anyway) to be able to spend more time on this one?)

While we were traveling towards the capital, I asked Gazef a number of times to show me his martial arts [Sixfold Slash of Light], [Sense Weakness] and [Possibility Sense] a number of times. The first time I saw the latter I got a feel for how it works, but after seeing it in action enough times I was astonished.

On the surface, it's just a number of slashes that land at the same time due to magic, but in reality, it's a single strike, but the user finds six different paths he could take to land the strike, and THAT is what he forces into reality using magic. Taking that to it's logical conclusion would allow someone to perfectly adjust every one of their movements according to the enemy's and thinking about how Gazef got close to such a G.o.dlike art at his low level is amazing, and it's not even the only one! Which brings me onto [Sense Weakness] and [Possibility Sense]. The former a.n.a.lyzes the opponents form and picks up openings in their stances and possible weaknesses by predicting their movements, while the latter measures their overall strength of a target, factoring in any magic that they've used and by the way they've used it working out approximately what other spells they have, adding everything together to get an estimate on the strength of the enemy.

How do I know all of this? It's my advanced learning of course. By studying his movements, every time I gleaned a little bit more information. Actually being able to use the techniques, however, is a work in progress. In theory I'm able to do it, but I have to train my mind to be able to take the strain of a.n.a.lyzing everything and plotting all the different forms my attacks should take, and my body has to be capable of enacting every movement I need for the slashes of light at the same time. Once all that is done though, I'll have my very own martial arts. [Asura Slash of Light] [Fleet Foot] and [Replication]. As of right now, I can use them to about an eighth of their true power.

Asura slash is just an upgraded version of sixfold slash, striking every vulnerable part of an enemy at the same time.

Fleet foot is a combination of the principles behind all three, leading to a very near perfect a.n.a.lysis of the target and optimum movement for as long as it's active. This doesn't require MP, instead of being mentally tiring. It's possible all martial arts draw on this 'mental energy' and just incorporate magic when necessary.

Replication is another application of the principle behind the sixfold slash, merely replacing the 'slash of light' with magic of my choosing.

When we got a bit closer to the city, I decided to surprise Gazef.

Dabilosi: Oi Gazef, let me show you something!

Gazef: Oh? You aren't going to ask me to show you my art again?

Dabilosi: Nope, but that's because... *turns away* [Martial Art: Sixfold Slash of Light]!

Six deep gashes in the ground and a wide-mouthed warrior-captain were the results.

Gazef: H-how did you do that? It. It took me so long to master that.

Dabilosi: I'm an amazingly fast learner Gazef. It's a trait that's been with me since I was born in this body and it's probably one of the reasons I'm standing here right now.

I seem to be 'telling the truth' quite a lot recently. I would probably be lying down looking at the sky and dreaming if I didn't have to work so b.l.o.o.d.y hard to find the secrets of Gazef's moves. Speaking of which, when the horses were resting, that's all Xygat did. Lazy sod. I guess that's what comes of being a dragon. At least I know if something happens to me he'll go berserk... Actually, that might not be too great either. Tell me why I brought him along again?

-----Re-Estize: Valencia Palace-----

I'm wearing a mask now. Apparently I'm making the guys jealous. Not my fault every woman I meet runs off with a nosebleed now is it? Ah well, can't complain too much, I get to meet the king today. If you want to be able to operate without restraint in an area, you have to get permission from the owner. Unless you can get permission from that owner's lord, or that lord's king. In other words, if this goes well, I'm free as a bird, otherwise I'm about as free as a battery hen. Hold on!-

Gazef: We're here. He is talking to the n.o.bles at the moment so this will be a good chance to introduce you to them as well.

Dabilosi: Just chuck us in at the deep end why don't you. Never even met a baron and you want me to waltz into a room with every major n.o.ble and the king. Very well, let's get this over with.

Oh yeh, I practically forgot Xygat was still here. For such a big man he sure hasn't got much of a presence.

Gazef pushes the doors open and the only thing I can see in the room is the ma.s.sive table. I expected a big table since it has to fit all the major n.o.bles but geez! Oh yeh, all the people inside are staring at me, but for some reason that just seems right. Especially considering they're sitting down so they have to look up at me slightly. The old man looks friendly, but he's probably the king based on where he is so I'm probably not going to get a chance to properly know him.

Marquis Boullope: Gazef, what have you brought in here?

Marquis Pespea: Now Boullope, that doesn't seem quite right, give them a chance to get in here before you question them.

Dabilosi: No, it's alright. I'm not particularly upset that I got called an object, by him at least. Anyway let me introduce myself, I'm a magic swordsman by the name of Darnell, and my partner here is a bombardment mage by the name of Ryker.

Boullope: Bombardment Mage? Explain yourselves, and Gazef! Explain why they're here already.

Dabilosi: Ok, stop. First off, a bombardment mage is a fire magic specialist who uses his magic to make ma.s.sive long-range explosions. As for why we're here, I just so happened to save Gazef and his troop from death. Protecting people is just something I do. It makes me feel good.

Boullope: WHAAT!!!!

Count Lytton: I believe what my a.s.sociate meant to say was, how is you saving Gazef possible?

Dabilosi: He got ambushed in the middle of nowhere by the Slane Theocracy is how. I even had to use a special method that left me bedridden for a week in order to defeat their trump card.

Gazef: It is true. The troops we believed to be from the Baharuth empire were actually just Theocracy troops in disguise. If not for this man I would have died at the hands of their Sunlight Scriptures Angels.

(A.N: Do not right angles, do not write angles.)

Ramposa III: Well, in that case, I am forever grateful for your help Darnell-san.

Xygat: No need.

Dabilosi: He's right, we already feel embarra.s.sed by accepting the hospitality of Gazef-san. If he weren't so persistent we would probably be back to traveling already.

Marquis Raeven: It is better this way, at least now we can repay you for saving our warrior-captain.

Dabilosi: Is it going to take long? I enjoy ceremony just about as much as a sword thrust in my gut.

Ramposa: No... In fact, if you would like I can simply knight you right here.

Raeven: My Liege.

Oh? Going up to the king, whispering in his ear... You're obviously going to ask me something now, and I hope it's what I'm looking for.

Ramposa: If it isn't too much trouble, could you please remove your mask? Or if not, at least tell us your reasons? I'm sorry if it is too much to ask.

NO! I wanted to protect the first prince! From what I heard he's the only one without at least one personal bodyguard and I think someone of my caliber would be more than qualified.

Dabilosi: Oh, sure. Since we're all men here I can safely remove it without fear of being jumped.

Hah. They all looked so confused. Removing my mask immediately clears all of that though. Jealousy is the most common emotion in the room at this point. Raeven looks impressed and Pespea looks annoyed but Ramposa is just looking at the n.o.bles and almost laughing. I put my mask back on and they all seem to sink into contemplation at the same time. I guess I was more eye-opening than I thought...

Dabilosi: Anything else? I take it you understand my reasoning now.

Ramposa: Ah yes. A minute ago you said that protecting people makes you feel good. Would you ever consider settling down if you became a bodyguard?

Dabilosi: Depends. I've never had it offered to me and most people that would request something like that are stuck up p.r.i.c.ks who I wouldn't want to protect. But if I did find someone worthwhile then I would probably settle down yes.

Gazef: (He can't be that dense can he? It's basically a given that the king wants to request his services, but he said the king would be a stuck-up p.r.i.c.k if he did. Well he's not a spy that's for sure.)

Ramposa: Well, I guess this old man will have to be a stuck-up p.r.i.c.k. I would like to request your services bodyguarding my daughter Renner without her knowing. You see, my Barbro can handle himself and Zanac has protection as well, but my daughter Renner has a single bodyguard, but while she insists that she doesn't require any more I would still find it more comforting to know you were there.

(A.N: Might be a healthy change for you old man, and no, I will not specify what I'm talking about.)

Dabilosi: Ok, just two questions. Is she the most likely person to get a.s.sa.s.sination attempts, and can my buddy have a squad of fire mages to teach. Doesn't matter if they're only tier 1, he'll get them to tier 3 no problem.

'Despite his exterior and lack of speech, Xygat is a very effective teacher. No-one but his students know how he does it, and even they can't properly explain. Whenever anyone pa.s.ses by his learning zone, he just stares at them until they are gone.'

We all used to love putting random paragraphs in our character and NPC descriptions. At one point in my character description, I think I put that Xygat got his teaching ability from studying my learning ability for a long time... Also Dragons co-existed with angels, some of them fell and became the fire dragons while others kept in contact with fallen angels but didn't actually fall themselves. But that's another story for a different time.

Margrave Urovana: Do you really think that is possible? Do you know how rare it is for people to get up to tier 2? Let alone three. And the strongest in the Baharuth empire, a tier 6 mage, has at most tier 4 disciples, and those are the best of the best. And yet you claim that a random group of tier 1 fire mages can reach tier 3 'no problem'?

Dabilosi: If I told you that he's a tier 5 fire magic specialist?

Urovana: Prove it and I will have no qualms.

Dabilosi: Alright then. Rampossama, would you please answer my prior question.

Ramposa: I have been thinking it over, and with the new policies she has implemented, she gained the moniker golden princess, but she has made many criminal enemies. Yes, she is the most likely target for a.s.sa.s.sination.

Dabilosi: Xygat, go blow stuff up and prove yourself. I'd quite like to meet my charge, so if you all could watch the training field. Gazef, what does princess Renner look like again?

(A.N: Don't anyone dare say I needed a description there. Look it up online if you're desperate.)

So, I look for the princess using magic and she's in her room, rehearsing? She isn't speaking though, just moving her mouth in the right way. Oh lord her face just morphed into a s.a.d.i.s.tic grin. I'm guessing she's just a tad less innocent and friendly than everyone thinks. Ah well, I should introduce myself. By just magically unlocking her door and going in.

Dabilosi: Knock knock. Can I come in?

She turns around, but already that face is gone and she looks surprised and worried. But now that I've seen her like that I can't think of this as anything but a game for her. I ain't playing.

Dabilosi: You're creepy you know that? But anyway I got a.s.signed to be your bodyguard without your knowledge. It's easier for me and you if I just come out about it because then I don't have to sneak around and you know who your daddy has spying on you.

Renner: Ah. Well, in that case, I'll just confront my father about it and he'll fire you.

Dabilosi: Well, there is that. I'm just curious as to why you put up that façade in front of the world.

Renner: Climb will love me that way, and I want to keep him close to me forever.

Dabilosi: First off, that's sketchy, but second off... Couldn't you just get someone to bind [Charm Person] to an object and you, and then give the object to climb? That would make him fall in love with you and do anything for you.

Renner: Do you know how to do it?

Dabilosi: Of course. Oh right, since you're my employer I should show you my face, and with your fixation on climb you won't tie me up.

She broke. Her mouth pulled ever so slightly at the side. Back on, quick. At least shalltear is open about her kinks. I have no idea about this lady's.

Renner: You can go.

Not going to but me for the charm? Ok. Works for me.

-----A few days later-----

Still sending regular messages to Nazarick about my progress. I know all about this society and even some of the latest gossip at this point, which is funny because that's how I learnt about Momon. Seriously. Nabe? Could you be more specific? I mean, I guess it's kind of interesting that he's posing as a warrior but Naberal isn't even hiding her disgust of humans. I need to fix that.

Dabilosi: [Message - Albedo] h.e.l.lo

Albedo: [Message - Dabilosi] Lord Dabilosi! I wasn't expecting a report this early, did something major happen?

Dabilosi: [Message - Albedo] If by major you mean Naberal being way too obvious when going with Momonga, yes. She can't seem to hide her disgust for humans.

Albedo: [Message - Dabilosi] I will inform her of it.

Dabilosi: [Message - Albedo] No need, I think the knowledge I'm going to share with you now will be more than enough to 'inform' her. Undead are never just born undead, are they? The same goes for Momonga. However, the reason Momonga and I have a particular fondness for humans is that he used to be one.

Albedo: [Message - Dabilosi] L-Lord Dabilosi, please don't joke about this.

Dabilosi: [Message - Albedo] I'm not. Granted, he was a very special human, in every way superior to the rest, but he was still human. Just tell everyone about that ok? It should make them slightly more self-aware around humans. But let it also be known that just because one individual on our level appeared from their ranks any more will. Because Momonga was a freak of nature, the only one like himself that has ever or will ever exist. Oh, I need to stop talking, I have uninvited visitors.

Dabilosi: Ok, why are you here and why are you invisible, that magic doesn't work around me.

???: How?! It's tier 5 magic!

Dabilosi: Yes... And you should know by now in my true form I can use at least, remember that now, at least tier 7-8 magic. I'm telling you this because I want a decent fight, not that I'm likely to get one.

???: My name is Angela of the Clearwater Scripture in the Slane Theocracy, and we would like you to come with us.

Dabilosi: Okay, first off, you're stupid, I already said 'you should know by now' implying that I knew about your surveillance of the other Scripture, and second of all... No thanks, I like it here. So are you going to suicide or am I going to kill you?